This variety (when free of localisms from Barcelona, Tarragona or Girona) is perceived by most Catalans as the standard form in Catalonia. As such, it is the variety used in most written and audiovisual media, as well as in learning materials.

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In Empordà region of Catalonia we could also distinguish an Empordanese subdialect. As evidenced in writings from the turn of the 19th century, by authors such as Joaquim Ruyra, differences with Barcelonese dialect were higher formerly than nowadays, for instance, regarding the usage of salat article. In the books of Ruyra there are signs of a clear state of diglossia: the more cultured figures, including the narrator, use the standard Barcelona dialect, whilst the local fishermen employ their own dialect.[citation needed]

Some of the differences are:

Hai, Fai, Vai etc. for Haig, Faig, Vaig (I have, I make, I go)

Mon, ton, son etc. for el meu, el teu, el seu (etc. (mine, yours, his) - these variations are not only restricted to the Empordanese Catalan, but are also in use, albeit not often, in Central Catalan; and are generally understood by all Central Catalan speakers.

Con and contes etc. for quan, quant and quantes. (when, which (m.sing, f.plur)

The Christian colonization of the Balearics was primarily done with settlers from this region and so both dialects share several similarities, most obviously the now practically extinct use of the salat article.

In addition, some synonyms are used more predominantly, for example capir, capieixo, for entendre, entenc (to understand, I understand) and testa for cap (head) which share a closer similarity to modern Italian (capire, capisco / testa) than Standard Catalan.

There once was a man with two sons. The younger said to his father: "Now it's time that I follow my own master and that I have money: I have to go out and see the world. Divide your goods and give me that which is my share."

"Oh, my son," said his father, "as you wish, you are a bad man and you will be punished." And afterwards he opened a small box, and divided everything he had into two parts.
Some days later, the bad young man went away from the village very proudly and without saying goodbye to anyone. He travelled through many desolate lands, many woods and many rivers, and he arrived at a big city where he spent all his money.